We'd been kind of lamenting that the places we've eaten in Italy this time, while good, weren't spectacular (with the exception of Osteria Istriana in Trieste). We were really hungry early last night but most stuff doesn't open until 8 pm. We went to a place that had been recommended to us but it was closed (May 1st holiday). So we tried 2 other places about as far apart in the old town as you can get. Both were closed. Finally, close to 10 pm, we stumbled across this place on a back alley and though it met the rules we really went out of desperation. Wow.
First course for me was a parma ham (actually called lardo because it's mostly fat) with caramelized fennel bulb.
Carolyn had a Sformatino (small baked dish with eggs - kind of a heavy soufflé) artichoke and parm cheese dish
We both had the risotto - made with a fava bean puree and parm cheese
The waitress recommended some excellent wine. We bought 2 glasses but she kept coming over saying she had a little extra and filing our glasses. They basically gave us a bottle of wine for the price of a few glasses.
This was finished off with a chocolate torta with berries
And an excellent espresso.
Pavia seems much more serious about food than Padua or Parma. This meal probably ranks in my top 5 meals of all time with the fun staff and quality of food.
We're trying a different Osteria tonight and we're both quite excited.
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